[ AW ] You're headed straight for danger

The world was slow to come into focus around her. The noises filtered into her ears and they were the first part of her to twitch. Her body ached and she immediately regretted regaining consciousness. The smells that filled her nose were familiar at least, telling her that she was back at the barracks. How long had she been out? The last thing she remembered was the large, dark male whipping towards her, his fangs bared.

As her body oriented itself to her surroundings, she was suddenly aware of the pain that radiated across her face. Her jaws parted in a gasp as it hit her. It was a searing pain that made her head throb and her stomach roll with nausea. Brows pinched together and the movement made it worse, dragging a whine from her lips. The sound would bring a nurse in and immediately the woman started fussing over her. Dark lips curled in warning as she tried to push herself onto her belly in an effort to be somewhat upright. Opening her eyes, she blinked, trying to clear her vision. But it would only partially clear.

A new kind of pain washed over her, one that wasn't physical. "What happened?!" She snarled at the nurse, unable to help herself as panic was slow to set in. Startled, the young nurse fumbled over her words, trying to explain what had happened. Impatience took form in a growl that echoed off the medical bay she was in. You're eye was wounded, you won't lose it, but you will be blind.

Time slowed around her. All she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears. Her body sagged in momentary defeat before she exploded. "I'm going home." Flailing limbs reminded her of the injury to her thigh, movement causing it to protest. Her singular vision would grow spotty, her body unwilling to take anymore trauma. "Take me home!" She snarled, her voice shrill with panic as her mind slowly became more aware of how different the world was around her now. The nurse would try to quiet her, try to keep her place, but even wounded, the fit soldier was a handful. The commotion would draw in another, though Sybil wouldn't notice to caught up in her fight or flight response.

"Speech."

Image by Ashon

ahkoris
the slow-burning ember

Ahkoris heard the commotion before it truly registered that it was Sybil. He was in his own room, even though he had requested -- nay, demanded -- to be placed with Sybil. He had been advised that she was in worse condition, that she had been upset when she woke amongst the fog of medications, and that his presence would just clutter the area for the nurses and doctors trying to attend to her. So he was in the adjacent suite, eyes open, staring at the ceiling and waiting for his next check-in with the attending staff, when he heard a snarl that, a moment later, he realized was from his bride.

He sucked in a breath. She sounded clear, clearer than she had before. Perhaps the medications had truly worn off now? They wouldn't tell him anything about her condition, not until they knew for sure, but he had seen the injury to her face and -- no. He wouldn't think that. He didn't have certainty, so he would not allow himself to wonder if she would be blinded by the male who had been attacking him. He replayed that scene over and over. It was impossible for him to banish that memory. So, at her voice rising in pitch in the other room, he found his legs, bandaged and bruised as they were, and rose. His head pounded to a drumbeat rhythm, and he felt a swoop of nausea. His entire body hurt, but his head, most of all. He must've hit it when he was knocked out.

"I'm going home. Take me home!" He entered the room as Sybil's shrill voice echoed on the walls. She was struggling with a nurse, though, thankfully, she remained bedridden and had not attempted to launch a physical assault on her caretaker. Akhoris limped in slowly. "Syb," he said, his voice hoarse. The nurse knew him. She had tended to Ahkoris, as well. "This is my wife," he told the nurse bluntly, sunset gaze serious. The nurse looked between he and Sybil and then gave a small nod, as if saying that he had a few minutes to try to calm Sybil down before she administered more medications.

Taking the opening, he stepped closer, looking down at Sybil's panicked face. The wounds...they were ghastly to look at, and he could see how little she could see, how little she had to be able to see, with that injury... "Hey, baby," he whispered, leaning in. "We can't go home. Not for a little bit. We both have to get patched up." He spoke with forced calm, but his insides were twisting as he smelled the scent of dried blood, as he saw the extent of the injury. Blind. He moved to sit down, very, very gingerly. He stifled the groan as he did so. His head continued to pound. "We're together, at least. That counts for something." He didn't know what else to say, but he would sit there with her for as long as the nurse allowed, and he would try to be a rock against which the sea broke, if only to shield her and give her a few moments of peace.

exit via fade


"speak"

Inky lips remained lifted in a snarl as the nurse continued to refuse her. Syb. It took a minute for his voice to register, for her name to process. But when it did, she would still. Ears rotated restlessly, flicking back and forth. Ahkoris. The moment would sudden quiet was threatened when the nurse lingered with indecision about leaving him here with her. Dark lips twitched in warning, threatening to lift once again. Whether it was her or not, the nurse would leave with a nod.

His voice was soft as he leaned in, his warmth washing over her and his cologne working its way into her nose. Her ragged breaths would slow, even as he too denied her, saying they both had to stay. "I want to go home." There was an edge to her voice that at any other time would suggest he was better off giving her what she wanted. But that edge was a little duller now, she still spoke with a demand but there was a pleading undertone that mixed with begrudging acceptance.

He uttered something about them being together. Her response was to lean into him, to wrap herself up in his embrace in an attempt to forget. "I'm blind." She whispered. A whine followed those two fateful words. With a shuddering breath, she would completely relax into him, her body slumping as they sat in silence.

exit via fade

"Speech."

Image by Ashon